HNMasterson

The primary issue with this mission is that the semi-dreadnought will run, and you're in for a stern chase. If you want to cheese the scenario, build two battleships that are geared toward destroying the cruisers (9 inch primaries), and load up with torps. Keep restarting until the semi-dreadnought has no torps of its own (you can check before the identify process completes by clicking on the semi-dreadnought; if it has torps it will show up in the range). Destroy the cruisers (hide your own cruisers behind your battleship), and then close range and torp. This allows you to do so much damage to the semi-dreadnought, that by the time it thinks to run, it won't be able to make anywhere near its top speed, and you can keep pace. In terms of closing distance - although the high speed of the semi might seem a problem, keep in mind the AI usually doesn't go for top speed, and will turn to maintain a broadside. Thus, you don't really need more then 20-22 knots to close range. If he runs, that's another matter. You will need a lot of belt & belt extended armor. Deck armor can go to 0. Given your post, you probably want a more legit solution. Sometimes you'll get lucky and the AI will choose lyddite and/or have insufficient belt extended armor with few bulkheads. In that case you can pen him from 5000 m with 12 inchers, and you might flood him before he has a chance to run. If he spawns with lyddite and no torps, definitely close the range ASAP. If he has torps, you're in for a much tougher time. The only way to do enough damage to prevent his escape is at extreme close range, and torps make that much more difficult. You could have him expend all his torp ammo before closing in, and/or sneak your light cruisers in behind you for torp attacks of your own (if they spawn with halfway decent speed and torps). Either way, I've always found it easier to destroy on the enemy light cruisers first. Good luck, this is one of several scenarios that are extremely tedious if they end up in a stern chase.

What time zone does the team operate from? Just wondering if it's Euro tomorrow or USA tomorrow.